Hill-Murray

We’re sprinting towards the end of February, but March Madness is already in full effect on the Minnesota high school sports scene. Our top match-ups this week feature two Friday hockey games with state tournament bids at stake, a top-five match-up in girls basketball and a couple of interesting games in the boys basketball playoffs.

The state’s best ski teams, both downhill and cross country, are at Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik this week for their perspective state tournaments. This weekend, the best dance teams in Minnesota hit Target Center in Minneapolis to determine the best high kick and jazz programs in three classes in the state..

The middle of January is a great time of year for the winter high school sports season. You’re in the meat and potatoes of the conference season around the state, which means there are great games on a nightly basis.

This weekend, there are plenty of great match-ups in hockey and basketball. One of the top events of the weekend is the Timberwolves Shootout, an all-day event at Target Center where some of Minnesota’s top teams face talented squads from across the country.

This week, South St. Paul is hosting a girls hockey tournament with some traditionally strong programs. There’s also The Clash National Duals in Rochester, which features Minnesota’s top high school wrestling programs as well as some of the top programs from around the country.

“Survivor: Blood Vs. Water” premiered Wednesday on WCCO. And this season there’s a Minnesotan to root for. Reed Kelly is a St. Paul native, but currently calls New York home. He’s on the show with his boyfriend, Josh Canfield.

There’s a huge match-up west of the Twin Cities Friday night that has Wright County Conference title implications later this year as Orono hosts Hutchinson. Both teams are unbeaten at 3-0, and the Spartans are ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, while the Tigers are the top-ranked team and the defending state champions.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s already winter state tournament season in Minnesota high school sports. Just last week, state champions were crowned at the State Dance Competition at Target Center as well as the State Alpine and Nordic Ski Championships at Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik, Minn.

February is a great time of year to be a high school sports fan in Minnesota. Every week, there’s a big match-up somewhere putting talented teams against each other with a lot on the line. This weekend, remaining girls hockey teams vie for a trip to state in various section championship games.

It’s early January and it’s bitterly cold outside, but that also means high school sports teams are entering the gauntlet that is the conference season. Many teams spent December playing non-conference competition both in tournaments and in some rivalry games to get the competitive juices flowing.

It’s a huge week for many teams around the state in high school football. It still feels like things just got started, but the reality is there are just two weeks left in the regular season. Conference championships and seeds for the section playoffs are at stake for a lot of teams.

There’s always that one week in the football season that means a little more than all the rest. You’ve put in the practice time, you’ve been in the weight room and you’ve watched the film. It’s time to go out under the lights and get that big victory.

It sometimes doesn’t always get the credit it deserves being filled with smaller schools, but the Classic Suburban Conference is always competitive and has just enough talent to keep you on your toes. That said, it’s a league that’s been dominated recently by St. Thomas Academy and South St. Paul.

Friday night’s High School Sports Rally features the State High School Hockey semi-finals! Among the big matches are Hill-Murray versus Wayzata, Duluth East versus Edina, Breck versus Hermantown and East Grand Forks versus St. Thomas Academy.

While the best girls hockey teams are battling at Xcel Energy this week for a state championship, pairings are set for the State Wrestling Tournament, and the State Gymnastics Tournament is this weekend at the University of Minnesota.